Donate Your Vehicle

Wheels-to-Meals

Donations of cars, boats, RVs and planes can be turned into meals for seniors. Simply complete the online form or call Georgi at 503-953-8131.

Vehicle Donation Process

The Oregon DMV has specific instructions that must be adhered to in order to transfer your vehicle into a donation for Loaves & Fishes Centers and a tax deduction for you. The vehicle must be consigned to an agent (we use Speed’s Towing Charity Auto Auctions) who will pick up your vehicle. The vehicle is sold at auction and the proceeds from the sale are donated to Loaves & Fishes Centers. Acknowledgement of the sale and amount will be mailed to the donor after the sale.

What paperwork do I need? A signed title (pink slip) is required for donation. If the title is not available, you’ll need to submit an Application for Replacement Title with the DMV and contact us when you have the replacement title. The vehicle’s registration card and keys should also be given to our representative.

Do I get a receipt for my donation? Yes, our driver will issue a receipt at the time of pick-up. This is not your final tax receipt. The initial acknowledgement will indicate your name and the year, make and model of the vehicle you are donating.

A final acknowledgement will be mailed to you within 30 days of the sale. The amount of gross proceeds received from your vehicle will be listed on this receipt. This will be your receipt for your charitable contribution.

What can I claim as a deduction? Due to recent IRS updates to the rules regarding vehicle donations and the amount of the deduction that can be claimed, we recommend that you refer to IRS Publication 4303 "A Donor’s Guide to Vehicle Donations," which can be found at www.irs.gov, or contact your tax advisor to determine the amount of your tax deduction.

Do I have to be with the vehicle at the time of pick-up? No. Special arrangements can be made when you talk with our representatives. Vehicles can be picked up while you are at work or in the early evening when you are at home.

How much money will Loaves & Fishes Centers receive? It varies. Our agreement with Speed’s Towing was designed so Loaves & Fishes Centers could receive a significant portion of the sales proceeds after towing and administrative costs. Typically this is at least 80% of the sale amount. However, the more the vehicle is worth, the higher the percentage that goes to Loaves & Fishes Centers.

Does my car have to be running to qualify for donation? No, but the car must have an engine and be towable. However, cars, trucks, trailers and boats that are in extremely poor condition or are far from our tow range (about 30 miles from the Portland airport), may cost more to tow than the value of the vehicle. If this is the case, Loaves & Fishes may not receive the usual benefit from your vehicle. This will not affect the amount of your tax deduction.